In the late 19th Century, the Mexican economical and social system essentially became feudal, with much of the land controlled by large estates and people pushed into peonage (debt-slavery). Zapata became a leading figure in the struggle for the rights of the villagers and their lands, and when the government was slow to respond and favored wealthy plantation owners, he took arms.

Update 2014-01-05: Exactly two decased ago, Zapastista's warned the public about NAFTA. Their prediction that neoliberal economic policies such as NAFTA would exacerbate poverty and undermine democracy rings true today.